Aquatic sport vehicle



March 1967 K. B. CARLSON AQUATIC SPORT VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 13, 1965 INVENTOR.

[fi m/[m 3 614x450 March 28, 1967 K. B. CARLSON 3,311,083

I AQUATIC SPORT VEHICLE Filed May 13, 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A aa - INVENTOR fi/V/VEM 64/7450 I g wcfzq Irma w:

United States Patent 3,311,083 AQUATIC SPGRT VEHICLE Kenneth B. Carlson, 10849 Blucher Ave., Granada Hills, Calif. 91344 Filed May 13, 1965, Ser. No. 455,479 11 Claims. (Cl. 115-70) This invention relates to high-speed surface-planing aquatic sport vehicles and has as its general object to provide such as a vehicle adapted to operate on a lake or other large body of water with a person sitting astride the same.

Toward the attainment of this general object, the invention aims to provide an aquatic sport vehicle:

(1) Having operator-controllable power driven means for driving it at high speed;

(2) Of shell type construction of such configuration and incorporating such design features as to always assume an upright position in the water and capable of performing a suitable sequence of operations as hereinafter specified;

(3) Adapted to assume a canted position when first placed in the water and to then sink, by automatic water ballasting, to a normal, semi-submerged position in which it can easily be mounted by an operator;

(4) Adapted to sink to a more fully submerged position when mounted by the operator, so as to make it easy for him to balance the vehicle and himself in an upright position in the water during the starting stage;

(5) Adapted to gradually rise to a planing position as it is accelerated in response to forward propulsion and to maintain a planing position under the control of the rider;

(6) Having a ballast tank adapted to be automatically filled to a predetermined level when the vehicle is at rest in the water and to automatically drain when the vehicle is in forward motion, without requiring any pumping apparatus nor any manual operation by the rider, the filling and emptying of the tank coinciding with the normal operations of the vehicle;

(7) Having in its hull a ballast opening which remains open at all times, providing for automatic entry of water into the ballast tank when the vehicle is at rest in the water and providing for automatic discharge for draining the ballast tank in response to forward movement of the vehicle in the water;

(8) Embodying a ballast tank check-valve that automatically closes when the correct amount of water has been received in the ballast tank and automatically opens when the ballast tank has drained to a predetermined level, the opening of the check-valve serving the additional function of permitting an upper compartment of the vehicle to be drained of any water that may have entered the same;

(9) Manually controllable by a single control stick which also functions as an ignition switch, whereby to provide built-in safety and maximum freedom for the rider, such control stick having a normal, spring-loaded down position in which the ignition is turned off and having a manually operable up position in which the ignition is turned on, and automatically returning to its down position so as to out 0a the ignition in the event the rider is spilled from the vehicle;

(10) Wherein the aforesaid control stick is also operable for steering the vehicle for left and right turns and embodies a rotatable hand grip for throttle operation to control the speed of propulsion;

(11) Wherein the control stick further functions for operation of an air vent cover to provide a supply of air for cooling and operating the propulsion motor and for entry of air into the ballast tank during the draining thereof so as to eliminate the vacuum and accelerate the drain- 3,311,083 Patented Mar. 28, 1967 ing operation, the air vent cover being held closed when the control stick is in its normal down position and being opened when the control stick is raised to its up position by the operator;

(12) Wherein the vehicle hull is divided into functional compartments, which are connected and controlled in such a manner as to accomplish the operations herein stated;

(13) Embodying a gas tank having a required air-vent and yet operative to restrain the escape of gas from the tank and from its filler tube;

(14) Having riders footrests so shaped as to constitute a functional part of the hull and adapted to assist in attaining stability and elevation of the vehicle from a submerged starting position to a planing travel position;

(15) Having means for removing ambient air from the motor compartment into the exhaust system through a venturi tube;

(16) Having on a forward portion of its bottom a protective guard adapted also to serve as a step to assist the rider in mounting the vehicle;

(17) Having means for exhausting the motor, with the motor and its exhaust pipe opening both positioned below the surface of the water, while restraining any back-flow of water into the motor or motor compartment;

(18) Having suitable equipment features such as carrying handle, mooring fittings, rider-mounting handles, dual air-vents, molded water seals or gaskets to restrain or direct the water within the hull for operational purposes.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the ensuing specification and appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the aquatic vehicle embodying my invention, shown in a position assumed when first placed in the water and illustrating in phantom' a successive position to which it will sink by automatic water-.ballasting action;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same shown in the position to which it will sink in the water after being mounted by a rider;

FIG. 3 is a view of the vehicle shown in a surface planing position attained by forward movement in the water;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the same;

FIG-5 is a front elevational view of the same;

FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view of the ballast tank check valve;

FIG. 7 is a detail vertical transverse sectional view through the bottom of the vehicle, showing the propeller and its shroud;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the vehicle;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the control assembly in an inoperative position in full lines and in an operative position in phantom; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of the gas tank and its filler tube assembly.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown therein, as an example of one form in which the invention may be embodied, an aquatic vehicle embodying a hull which is generally of boat-hull form, having a rela- -tive narrow lower section A and an upper section which,

as shown in FIG. 5, includes widened bow and stem portions C and D connected by a Waist portion E of substantially the same width as the lower section A. The narrowed waist portion E is adapted to be straddled by the legs of a rider supported upon a seat F. The hull has a pointed prow G which is tapered so as to easily cleave the water as the vehicle moves forwardly. The prow G is slanted downwardly and rearwardly as shown in FIG. 2 so as to assist in the elevation of the vehicle as it is propelled forwardly.

I A control panel 1 is embodied in the deck of the bow 3 portion C of the hull, and is located directly in front of the riders seat F. Foot steps 2 are provided on the respective sides of the lower hull section A just above the keel level, and are inclined upwardly and forwardly as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, so as to provide a planning effect in response to forward propulsion.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8, in which many of the reference numerals are arranged numerically in clockwise succession around the figure. The vehicle is adapted to become partially submerged when placed in the water, by means of a ballast tank 22 located in the forward area of the bottom section A of the hull and having at its forward extremity a vent tube 3 which projects upwardly along the prow G to a point'just below the forward deck 50 and is open at its upper end to provide for limited discharge of air from the ballast tank 22 in response to entry of water into the ballast tank, and for limited flow of air back into the ballast tank in response to discharge of water therefrom. A ballast passage 15 extends along the bottom of the hull from the rear extremity of ballast tank 22 through the stern of the hull. Passage 15 provides for the flow of water into the ballast tank so as to cause the vehicle to settle in the Water under its own weight from the initial position shown in FIG. 1 (which it will assume when firstplaced in the water) to the partially submerged position shown in phantom in FIG. 1; and to further settle from that position to the almost fully submerged position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 when mounted by a rider R, the air being discharged from ballast tank 22 through a ballast check valve 23 and subsequently through vent tube 3 as the water fills the tank. Passage 15 then functions for aspirating discharge of the water from the ballast tank 22 in response to suction at the stern of the hull created by forward movement of the vehicle in the water, air then reentering the ballast tank 22 rapidly through the ballast check valve 23.

The front, bottom and sides of ballast tank 22 can be defined by'respective portions of the bow G of the hull. Top and rear portions of the tank are defined by a bulkhead 51 extending rearwardly from the prow G and having stepped portions 52 and 53 extending downwardly to a false bottom 54 constituting the upper wall of pas sage 15. An upper compartment 25 is defined between the deck 50, the bulkhead 51 and a perforated baffle 24 which extends downwardly from the rear extremity of forward deck'50 to the upper extremity of the step portion 52 of the bulkhead. Chamber 25 remains filled with air and provides for the breathing of air into and out of the ballast tank 22 and motor compartment 6.

The forward extremity of control panel 1 is elevated above the rear extremity of forward deck 50 to define an air vent 4 which is normally closed by an air vent cover 27 (FIG. 8). A control stick assembly 5 extends through the instrument panel 1 which is located directly in front of the riders seat F and is recessed to protect the equipment mounted thereon and to protect the rider.

Equipment mounted on control panel 1 may include (but not necessarily limited to) the control assembly 5, a gas primer, choke, gas gage, temperature gage, speedometer, gas tank filler tube, and cap.

A motor compartment 6 is defined rearwardly of the bafile 24 :and below a seat cover 8 which is det-achably secured to the hull in covering relation to a hatch opening 7, any suitable releasable fasteners being employed,

and the cover 8 being sealed tightly to the deck by means of a gasket 9.

The motor compartment 6 contains, though not limited to, a venturi tube 10, a motor exhaust pipe 11, a motor (e'.g. gasoline engine) 13, a rudder stem 14, a gas tank 19, a battery 21, and components of the control assembly 5,hereinafter described in detail. As shown, the motor 13 and gas tank 19 may be mounted upon the false bottom'54 and the battery 21 may be mounted on the step 52.

The venturi tube 10 constitutes an inlet to an intermediate portion of the exhaust pipe 11 and functions by aspirating action, in response to flow of exhaust gas through the exhaust pipe 11, to draw gas, motor fumes and warm air from the motor compartment 6, such withdrawn gases being conveyed along with the motor exhaust through the exhaust pipe 11 and thence exhausted through the stern wall 12 of the hull. The exhaust pipe 11 has a lower forward end attached to the motor 13 to receive the exhaust thereof, and extends upwardly from this point to a point just below the deck cover 8, where it is coiled with a full turn into a loop 55 and thence extended downwardly along the stern wall 12 and projected therethrough at a point intermediate the height thereof, for discharge into the water. The loop 55 functions to trap any surge of water that may enter the discharge end of the exhaust pipe 11, and its height is such as to prevent the entry of water into the motor in any position that may be assumed by the vehicle under normal conditions, including the various positions shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The centers of gravity of gas tank 19, battery 21,motor 13 and water ballast tank 22 are sufficiently low in relation to the buoyancy of the air-filled breathing compartment 25 and the upper area of the motor compartment 6, so that the normal actions of mounting and dismounting the vehicle will not tip it over on its side, the weighting effect of the motor and gas tank being supplemented by that of the parts located below the bottom.

The hull and deck cover 8 are of shell type construction and may be made of, though not limited to, laminated fiberglass impregnated with a resin or plastic material. The motor 13 may be of any type suitable for the task to be performed thereby and include conventional components such as generator and starter, with suitable connections to the battery 21 for charging the same and for operating the starter, such parts being conventional and therefore not illustrated.

The rudder stafi 14 extends downwardly through a suitable seal in the bottom of the hull. A rudder 16 is secured to its lower end. At its upper end, rudder staff 14 has a crank arm to which it attached a rudder cable 33 of conventional closed loop form, connected to the control assembly 5 so as to transmit control movement therefrom to the rudder staff 14.

A propeller unit 17, incorporating suitable conventional bevel gear drive transmission (e.g. of outboard type) is driven from the motor 13'by a drive having a housing sleeve 56 extending from the motor 13 downwardly through the bottom of the hull, and may include means (not shown) of conventional outboard type, for swinging the propeller transversely by rotation of the sleeve 56 so as to provide steerable propulsion. Propeller unit 17 is encased in a tubular housing 18 (extending fore-aft and open front and rear) secured to the bottom of the hull forwardly of the rudder 16, the housing 18 protecting the propeller unit 17 against contact with obstacles, increasing the efficiency of propulsion, functioning as a stabilizing fin, and protecting the rider and others against injurious contact with the propeller. Additional protection for the propeller is provided by a pair of runner-type guards 20 secured to the bottom of the shell just forwardly of the housing 18. The guards 20 further function as foot steps to assist a rider in mounting the vehicle, being of stirrup form, and also serve as a prop for resting the vehicle on a solid support (e.g. the ground) when out of the water.

The ballast tank 22 is a closed compartment except for the vent tube 3 and the ballast check valve 23. Check valve 23, tank 22 and ballast passage 15 cooperatively function for draining from the upper breathing compartment 25 any water that may enter through the air vent 4. The baffle 24 functions to restrict the entry of water into the motor compartment 6 from the breathing compartment 25 while at the same time allowing a sufficient flow of air (entering through vent 4) through the compartment 25 into the motor compartment for efficient operation of the motor 13. Baffie 24 may be of mesh type material or may consist of a series of perforated baffle plates having their perforations staggered. The invention is not limited to the use of a bafile but instead may utilize another air vent cover in series with the vent cover 27 in an arrangement such as to permit air to pass to the motor compartment.

Upper compartment will trap any water entering the hull and will discharge it through the ballast check valve 23.

Referring now to FIG. 9, the control assembly 5 comprises a control stick 30 of bell-crank form having a bandle 28 and an aligned arm extending through a flexible sealing boot 31 of diaphragm construction covering an aperture in the control panel 1 through which a bent inner leg of the control stick 30 extends into the motor compartment 6 and is rotatably mounted in a gimbal ring 32 which in turn is mounted to the control panel 1 on a transverse axis by means of a gimbal hinge 29. Handle 28 is rotatable on the aligned arm of the control stick 30 for etfecting throttle control of motor 13 through suitable connections which can be of conventional type such as utilized in motorcycle control and therefore are not shown. The sealing boot 31 accommodates all required movements of control stick 30 while maintaining a seal between the control stick and the control panel 1. The rudder cable 33 is attached to the inner end of control stick 30 by a cable clamp 34 which is arranged as an arm to transmit steering movement in response to rotation of the inner leg of control stick 30'within the gimbal ring 32 when handle 28 is moved with a lateral motion.

To the inner leg of control stick 30 is pivotally connected, at 26, one end of a link 36 the other end of which is pivotally connected at 37 to the vent cover 27. Cover 27 is closed when handle 28 is lowered to an inoperative position shown in full lines in FIG. 9, and is opened when handle 28 is raised to an operative position shown in phantom in FIG. 9, the gimbal ring 32 tilting around the hinge 29 to accommodate this movement.

When the control stick 30 is elevated to its operative position, a pair of contacts carried by the control stick and by the underside of control panel 1 respectively, will establish contact to close an electric circuit to the motor ignition. Such circuit may be conventional and therefore is not illustrated. The control stick is spring-loaded (by conventional spring means, not shown) to its inoperative position, and thus in the event the rider is thrown from the vehicle or otherwise releases his hold upon the control stick, the latter will automatically return to the inoperative position, and the ignition circuit will consequently be broken.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the ballast check valve 23 comprises a buoyant sphere 40 (e.g. h'ollow spherical shell) acting as a float valve which, as the water rises toward a maximum level in the ballast tank 22, rises to a closed position, shown in phantom, in which it seats against a valve seat comprising a flexible internal lip of a circular gasket 41 which is attached as shown to the margin of an opening in the bulkhead 51. When thus closed, the valve sphere 40 restricts the rate at which any further rise of the water in the ballast tank 22 can take place, since beyond that point the vent 3 provides the only path for escape of air. The valve sphere 40 also functions to prevent splashing of water from the ballast tank 22 into the upper compartment 25 when the first surge of power drives the vehicle forwardly. Float valve sphere 40, when not buoyed by the ballast water in the tank 22, will be supported in a lowered, open position by a plurality of fingers 57 cooperatively defining a cage or nest in which the valve sphere 40 is centered below the valve seat 41.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the gas tank 19 is provided with a filler tube 48 extending upwardly therefrom through the control panel and normally closed at its upper end by a cap 43. A small vent tube 47 communicates with an intermediate portion of the filler tube 48, extending upwardly therefrom and terminating in a larger tube 45 the upper end of which is closed except for a small bleed aperture 44 which permits air to pass downwardly into the gas tank 19 as fuel is withdrawn therefrom. The larger tube 45 is packed with a porous or mesh type material acting as a baflle to prevent leakage from the upper end of tube 47 in the event the vehicle should assume a position other than its normal upright position. The aperture 44 is located at a height above the upper end of filler tube 48 such that a filled condition of tank 19 will show at said upper end before the fuel can reach the aperture 44.

In operation of the vehicle, when it is first placed in a body of water, it may assume a canted poition as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 1. As the water ballast enters the ballast tank 22, the vehicle will sink to a normal, semi-submerged position in the Water as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1. When the vehicle is in this position, it may be mounted by a rider R, whose weight will cause it to sink to a more fully submerged position as shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the rider may start the motor and accelerate the vehicle, the forward motion causing it to simultaneously commence a forward-upward gliding movement accompanied by gradual evacuation of the ballast tank which facilitates the elevation of the vehicle until finally it assumes a surface-planing position as indicated in FIG. 3. With the vehicle in this position, the rider may then execute various maneuvers such as banked turns (leaning the vehicle to effect banking during a turn) etc. while riding the vehicle astride, similar in a general way to horseback or motocycle riding. Because the riders legs are exposed to the water and the spray, the riding experience is comparable to that of water skiing, with zest being added with the direct bodily contact with the water.

The invention contemplates the provision of a venting means for the battery similar to the gas tank venting means of FIG. 10.

Jet type propulsion means may optionally be used instead of the conventional motor-propeller unit shown.

Iclaim:

1. An aquatic sport vehicle comprising: a buoyant hull having a closed deck including a riders seat and of proportions such that it can be ridden astride; bulkhead means within said hull defining a water ballast tank in the lower forward portion thereof, said tank having an elevated vent; means defining a ballast passage extending along the bottom of the hull from the rear end of the ballast tank and through the rear end of the hull, for discharge of ballast water from the tank by aspirating action in response to forward movement of the vehicle in the water; and motor driven propeller means for forward propulsion of the vehicle.

2. An aquatic sport vehicle as defined in claim 1, including means cooperating with said bulkhead means to define a breathing compartment above said ballast tank, said vent communicating with said breathing compartment at a point near deck level.

3. An aquatic sport vehicle as defined in claim 1, including an annular gasket defining a valve seat and a valve opening in said bulkhead means near the top of said ballast tank, a float valve within said ballast tank adapted to seat upwardly against said valve set to close said valve opening so as to limit the entry of water into the tank, and means for supporting said float valve in a lowered position below and opposed to said valve seat.

4. An aquatic sport vehicle as defined in claim 1, including means cooperating with said bulkhead means to define a breathing chamber above said ballast tank; an air pervious baffle extending upwardly from said bulkhead means to the deck, said breathing chamber being defined forwardly of said baflle and a motor compartment being defined rearwardly of said baflle, in which said motor is located, said baffle inhibiting the passage of Water from said breathing chamber into said motor compartment.

5. An aquatic sport vehicle as defined in claim 4,

wherein the deck of said hull is provided with a hatch opening, said motor being located below said hatch tank to the rear end of the hull and spaced above said hull bottom to define a ballast passage for flow of water into said ballast tank from an external body of water and for discharge of water from said ballast tank in response to forward travel of said vehicle in the water; a motor mounted immediately above said false bottom in the lower rear area of the hull and having a center of gravity such as to normally cause said hull to rest in an upright position in a supporting body of water; and an outboard propeller having a driving connection with said motor.

8. .An aquatic sport vehicle as defined in claim 7, including an exhaust pipe having an exhaust connection with said motor, extending upwardly therefrom to a point near deck level and thence extending downwardly and through the rear end of the hull for discharge of motor exhaust.

eluding a venturi inlet to an intermediate portion of said 8 exhaust pipe, said venturi inlet communicating with the motor compartment for withdrawing vapors therefrom in response to aspirating action induced by flow of the motor exhaust through said exhaust pipe.

10. An aquatic sport vehicle as defined in claim 7, including a control assembly comprising a control stick extending through the deck and attached thereto for foreaft movement on a transverse axis, and for rotating movement around a vertical axis; a vent in said deck for entry of ventilating air into the motor compartment; and a link connecting said control stick to said vent for opening the same in response to movement of said stick from an inoperative to an operative position.

11. A vehicle as defined in claim 10, further including a rudder for imparting steering movements to said hull; a rudder arm secured to the inner end of said control stick; and a control rudder cable extending from said rudder arm to said rudder for transmitting steering movement thereto in response to rotation of said control stick.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,136 9/1937 Strawn 115-70 2,286,350 6/1942 Drake 115-70 2,748,400 6/1956 Kregall 11570 3,079,885 3/1963 Cooke l156.l 3,081,729 3/1963 Lee 11570 X MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN AQUATIC SPORT VEHICLE COMPRISING: A BUOYANT HULL HAVING A CLOSED DECK INCLUDING A RIDER''S SEAT AND OF PROPORTIONS SUCH THAT IT CAN BE RIDDEN ASTRIDE; BULKHEAD MEANS WITHIN SAID HULL DEFINING A WATER BALLAST TANK IN THE LOWER FORWARD PORTION THEREOF, SAID TANK HAVING AN ELEVATED VENT; MEANS DEFINING A BALLAST PASSAGE EXTENDING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE HULL FROM THE REAR END OF THE BALLAST TANK AND THROUGH THE REAR END OF THE HULL, FOR DISCHARGE OF BALLAST WATER FROM THE TANK BY ASPIRATING ACTION IN RESPONSE TO FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE IN THE WATER; AND MOTOR DRIVEN PROPELLER MEANS FOR FORWARD PROPULSION OF THE VEHICLE. 